Device and method for storing and for supplying fluid fuel

ABSTRACT

Device for storing and for supplying fluid fuel, comprising a reservoir of liquefied fuel gas in equilibrium with a gas phase, in particular hydrogen, a circuit for filling the reservoir, at least one circuit for tapping fluid from the reservoir, and at least one circuit for regulating the pressure in the reservoir, the filling circuit, tapping circuit and pressure-regulating circuit comprising a set of valves arranged in a housing separate from the reservoir, the housing being removably connected to the reservoir via a demountable mechanical coupling system, the tapping circuit, the pressure-regulating circuit and the filling circuit comprising a set of demountable fluidic connectors situated at the junction between the reservoir and the housing and configured to allow the separation between portions of circuits situated in the reservoir and in the housing during the demounting of the housing with respect to the reservoir.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a § 371 of International PCT ApplicationPCT/FR2020/050520, filed Mar. 12, 2020, which claims § 119 (a) foreignpriority to French patent application FR 1 902 922, filed Mar. 21, 2019.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for storing and for supplying fluidfuel, as well as to a method for supplying fuel.

More specifically, the invention relates to a device for storing and forsupplying fluid fuel comprising a reservoir of liquefied fuel gas inequilibrium with a gas phase, in particular hydrogen, a circuit forfilling the reservoir, at least one circuit for tapping fluid from thereservoir, at least one circuit for regulating the pressure in thereservoir, the filling, tapping and pressure regulating circuitscomprising a set of valves arranged in a housing separate from thereservoir.

Related Art

In some applications of vehicles using a fuel cell for generating thedrive force of the vehicle, and/or the electrical energy for poweringelectrical equipment, the vehicle has a liquefied hydrogen reservoir.The presence of an on-board liquid hydrogen reservoir and its associatedfluid circuits requires safety measures, whilst allowing it to betapped, allowing multiple filling operations and allowing maintenancewithout immobilizing the vehicle for too long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aim of the present invention is to propose a device allowing all orsome of these constraints to be addressed as well as possible.

To this end, the device according to the invention, also in accordancewith the generic definition provided in the above preamble, is basicallycharacterized in that the housing is removably connected to thereservoir via a demountable mechanical coupling system, the tappingcircuit, the pressure regulating circuit and the filling circuitcomprising a set of demountable fluidic connectors located at thejunction between the reservoir and the housing and configured to allowseparation between portions of circuits located in the reservoir and inthe housing during the demounting of the housing with respect to thereservoir.

Furthermore, embodiments of the invention can comprise one or more ofthe following features:

-   -   in the position connected to the reservoir, the housing defines        a closed volume filled with a neutral atmosphere, i.e.        predominantly comprising an inert gas such as helium;    -   in the position connected to the reservoir, the housing defines        a sealed, closed vacuum volume, i.e. at a pressure ranging        between 10⁻⁹ mbar and 10⁻¹ mbar;    -   the set of valves arranged in the housing comprises or is made        up of all-or-nothing type valves;    -   the set of valves arranged in the housing comprises or is made        up of electrical control type valves;    -   the filling circuit of the reservoir comprises a liquid filling        pipe provided with an upstream end emerging at a wall of the        housing and a downstream end emerging at a wall of the        reservoir, in particular at a lower end of the reservoir, said        liquid filling pipe comprising at least one valve located in the        housing;    -   the circuit for tapping fluid from the reservoir comprises a        tapping pipe provided with a first upstream end emerging at a        wall of the reservoir, in particular at a lower end of the        reservoir, and a downstream end emerging at a wall of the        housing, said tapping pipe comprising, arranged in series, at        least one valve and a heating heat exchanger;    -   the circuit for tapping fluid from the reservoir comprises a        second upstream end emerging at a wall of the reservoir at an        upper end of the reservoir, said second upstream end being        connected to the downstream end via at least one valve and the        heating heat exchanger;    -   the circuit for regulating the pressure in the reservoir        comprises a pressurization pipe comprising an upstream end        emerging at a wall of the reservoir, in particular at a lower        end of the reservoir, and a downstream end emerging at a        separate point of a wall of the reservoir, in particular at an        upper end of the reservoir, said pressurization pipe comprising,        arranged in series, at least one valve and a heating heat        exchanger;    -   the circuit for regulating the pressure in the reservoir        comprises a heating exchanger housed in the reservoir for        thermally exchanging with the fuel stored in the reservoir, the        exchanger being fed, via a pipe, with a hot fluid, in particular        fuel that is tapped from the reservoir and is heated after being        tapped;    -   the device comprises at least one from among: a sensor for        measuring the pressure in the reservoir, a sensor for measuring        the pressure of the fluid in the housing, said at least one        sensor being located in the housing;    -   the device comprises an electronic data storage and processing        component connected to the set of valves, the electronic data        storage and processing component being configured to control the        opening or the closing of the valves;    -   the pressure in the reservoir is increased via a heater located        in the reservoir;    -   the heater is a heat exchanger fed with fuel that is tapped from        the reservoir and is heated and that is set to exchange heat        with the fuel in the reservoir;    -   the device comprises a rapid drainage system comprising a sealed        container containing a pressurized gas, in particular helium, a        component for opening the container and a discharge pipe        connecting the container to the storage volume of the reservoir,        as well as a discharge pipe provided with at least one valve or        a flap for discharging the fluid out of the reservoir.

The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a device according toany one of the features mentioned above or hereafter.

The invention also relates to a method for providing a consumer withfuel from a storage and supply device according to any one of thefeatures mentioned above or hereafter, wherein, when the pressure in thereservoir is higher than a first determined threshold, the fuel istapped in gas form from the gas phase of the reservoir and, when thepressure in the reservoir is lower than a second determined threshold,the fuel is tapped in liquid form from the gas phase of the reservoir.

According to other possible distinguishing features:

-   -   the pressure in the reservoir is increased by withdrawing fuel        in liquid form from the liquid phase of the reservoir, by        heating this withdrawn liquid fuel, then reintroducing it into        the reservoir;    -   the pressure in the reservoir is increased via a heater located        in the reservoir;    -   the heater is a heat exchanger fed with fuel that is tapped from        the reservoir and is heated and that is set to exchange heat        with the fuel in the reservoir.

The invention can also relate to any alternative device or methodcomprising any combination of the features mentioned above or hereafterwithin the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further distinguishing features and advantages will become apparent uponreading the following description, which is provided with reference tothe figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic and partial side section view illustrating afirst example of the structure and of the operation of a device forstoring and for supplying fuel;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic and partial side section view illustrating asecond example of the structure and of the operation of a device forstoring and for supplying fuel;

FIG. 3 shows a simplified view of a device for storing and for supplyingfuel integrated in a vehicle with its equipment housing in a connectedposition;

FIG. 4 shows a simplified view of a device for storing and for supplyingfuel integrated in a vehicle with its equipment housing in a separatedposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device 1 for storing and for supplying fluid fuel illustrated inFIG. 1 comprises a reservoir 2, 3 of liquefied fuel gas in equilibriumwith a gas phase, the liquefied fuel particularly can be hydrogen (H2).

Preferably, the reservoir is a dual enclosure cryogenic type reservoir,i.e. comprising an internal enclosure or reservoir 2 containing thecryogenic fluid and an external enclosure or reservoir 2. The internal 2and external 3 enclosures are spaced apart and together define a thermalinsulation space, in particular a vacuum space (pressure ranging between10⁻⁹ mbar and 10⁻¹ mbar and comprising an insulation material (“MLI”multilayer insulation, for example).

Typically, the inter-wall 2, 3 vacuum can range between 10⁻³ mbar and10⁻⁵ mbar, but other insulations and pressure ranges can becontemplated, such as non-vacuum insulation foam, to an ultra-highvacuum at 10⁻⁹ mbar, for example.

The device 1 comprises a circuit 4 for filling the reservoir 2, 3, acircuit 6, 7 for tapping fluid from the reservoir 2 and a circuit 8, 9for regulating the pressure in the reservoir 2.

The filling 4, tapping 6, 7 and pressure regulating 8, 9 circuitscomprise a set of valves 13, 14, 15, 18, 21, 34 arranged in a housing 10separate from the reservoir 2, 3, i.e. the set of valves is in a housing10 separate from the external wall 3 of the reservoir.

This housing 10 is mechanically and fluidly removably connected to thereservoir 2, 3 via a demountable mechanical coupling system 11 (see FIG.1 and FIG. 2).

In other words, the tapping circuit 6, 7, the pressure regulatingcircuit 8, 9 and the filling circuit 4 comprise, for example, a set ofdemountable fluidic connectors 12 located at the junction between thereservoir 2, 3 and the housing 10 and configured to allow separationbetween portions of circuits 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 respectively located in thereservoir 2, 3 and in the housing 10 during the demounting of thehousing 10 with respect to the reservoir 2, 3.

The housing 10 can contain all or some of the equipment of the device,in particular: the flow control components (valves), the fluid heatingcomponents (exchangers or other), the instrumentation (sensors), safetyflaps.

This allows physical separation of the housing 10, which thus forms aremovable, replaceable compartment or casing for equipment. This allowsthe housing 10 to be removed in order to be maintained and, during thistime, allows it to be replaced by another housing 10 on the vehicle 29in order to prevent it from being immobilized. This particularly allowsthe housing 10 to be removed without having to previously drain thereservoir 2, 3.

Preferably, the housing 10 defines a closed volume, which is fluidlyindependent of the internal volume of the reservoir, and in particularof the volume of the reservoir 2, 3 to which it is connected.

In other words, in the position connected to the reservoir 2, 3, theinternal volume of the housing 10 is not connected to the internalvolume of the reservoir (inter-wall space in particular), the gasatmospheres are independent and can be different (in terms ofcomposition and/or of pressure and/or of temperature).

Of course, as a variant, when the housing 10 is connected to thereservoir, the internal volume of the housing 10 could be connected tothe internal volume of the reservoir to which it is connected (forming ahomogeneous gas volume).

Advantageously, at least in the position connected to the reservoir 2,3, the housing 10 defines a closed volume filled with a neutralatmosphere, i.e. predominantly comprising an inert gas such as helium.More generally, the atmosphere can include or be made up of a gasmixture at the temperature of the liquid stored in the reservoir.

As a variant or in combination, in the position connected to thereservoir 2, 3, the housing 10 defines a sealed, closed vacuum volume,i.e. at a pressure ranging between 10⁻¹ mbar and 10⁻⁹ mbar. This vacuumcan be obtained, for example, from an atmosphere made up of air.

Thus, the main equipment of the circuits is housed in a confined housingand any breakdown or possible leak does not endanger the reservoir.These leaks particularly can be collected via safety flaps 30, whichdischarge excess pressure outward, in particular toward a collectionpipe 31.

Arranging the equipment in a separate housing 10 allows any protection(dual wall) for each item of equipment to be dispensed with. Theequipment is protected against external attacks. In addition, thisarchitecture keeps the operators working on this equipment away from thecoldest parts (reservoir, etc.).

Preferably, all or some of the valves 13, 14, 15, 18, 21, 34 arranged inthe housing 10 are all-or-nothing type valves. Of course, one or morevalves can be flow and/or pressure regulation valves (progressiveopening in particular).

This provides a simple and reliable structure.

In addition, also preferably, all or some of the valves 13, 14, 15, 18,21, 34 arranged in the housing 10 are electrical control type valves. Inaddition, these valves are controlled and transmit a signal, inparticular to an electronic data storage and processing component 26(wireless and/or wired connection) see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, representingtheir open or closed state. This electronic data storage and processingcomponent 26 can comprise a microprocessor, a computer or any equivalentdevice and can be particularly configured to control the opening or theclosing of the valves. Preferably, the electrical/electronic componentsof the device are arranged outside the housing 10.

As illustrated, the circuit for filling the reservoir 2 can comprise aliquid filling pipe 4 provided with an upstream end emerging at a wallof the housing 10 (filling connector 40 intended to engage with afilling component, such as a pistol or a nozzle at the end of a flexiblehose). The filling pipe 4 comprises a downstream end emerging at a lowerend of the internal wall 2 of the reservoir. This liquid filling pipe 4comprises at least one valve 34 located in the housing 10.

The circuit 6, 7 for tapping fluid from the reservoir can comprise atapping pipe 6 provided with a first upstream end 16 emerging at a lowerend of the internal wall 2 of the reservoir and a downstream endemerging at a wall of the housing 10 (tapping connector 46 intended tobe connected, for example, to a pipe routing the fluid fuel to a user27, such as a fuel cell, for example). The tapping pipe 6 can comprise,arranged in series, at least one valve 13, 14, 15 and a heat exchanger12 for heating the fluid (vaporizer). As illustrated, the tapping pipe 6can particularly comprise, arranged in series, a first valve 13, theheating heat exchanger 12, then two other valves 14, 15 in series. Thisallows liquid to be tapped that is vaporized in order to provide fuelgas downstream.

The circuit 6, 7 for tapping fluid from the reservoir preferablycomprises a second upstream end 17 emerging at an upper end of thereservoir 2, 3. This second upstream end 17 can be connected to thedownstream end of the tapping circuit upstream of the heating heatexchanger 12 (via a valve 18, for example).

The circuit for regulating the pressure in the reservoir 2, 3 can, forits part, comprise a pressurization pipe 8 comprising an upstream end 19emerging at a lower end of the internal wall 2 of the reservoir and adownstream end 20 emerging at a separate point of a wall of thereservoir 2, in particular at an upper end of the reservoir 2. Thispressurization pipe can comprise, arranged in series, at least one valve21 and a heating heat exchanger 22. This allows liquid fuel to bewithdrawn, heated (vaporized) and reintroduced into the reservoir inorder to increase the pressure therein. This pressurization exchanger 22can be an exchanger separate from the exchanger 12 of the tappingcircuit. As a variant, these two exchangers 12, 22 can be coupledtogether or shared.

The device 1 can comprise one or more sensor(s) and in particular atleast one from among: a sensor 23 for measuring the pressure in thereservoir (for example, measuring the pressure in a pipe 17 connected tothe inside of the internal wall 2), a sensor 25 for measuring thepressure of the fluid in the housing 10, a sensor 24 measuring thepressure. All or some of these sensors can be arranged in the housing10, whilst being connected to the volumes of the reservoir 2, 3, thepressures of which are measured. The signals from these sensors can betransmitted to the electronic data processing and storage component 26.This component 26 can control the valves 26, in particular as a functionof these signals, as described hereafter.

Thus, the electronic data processing and storage component 26 can beconfigured (programmed) to tap fuel and to feed a user component 27and/or to control (regulate) the pressure inside the reservoir, inparticular when the fuel is not tapped or when the reservoir is full.

For example, the electronic storage component 26 can be configured totap the fuel in the liquid part (lower) or gas part (upper) of thereservoir 2 according to the pressure prevailing in the reservoir 2, 3.

Thus, when the measured pressure 24 in the reservoir 2 is higher than afirst determined threshold, for example, ranging between 3 and 5 bar(depending on the type of reservoir and on the application), the valvesare controlled to tap the fuel in gas form from the gas phase of thereservoir (via the second upstream end 17 of the tapping circuit, valve18 open, valve 13 closed). This allows the vaporization of the gas inthe reservoir 2 to be reduced (“boil-off”).

However, when the pressure in the reservoir 2, 3 is lower than a seconddetermined threshold (which can be equal to the first aforementionedthreshold), the fuel is tapped in liquid form from the gas phase of thereservoir (valve 13 open, valve 18 closed).

The electronic storage component 26 can be configured to also pressurizethe reservoir if necessary.

This increase in pressure can be implemented by withdrawing liquid fuel(valve 21 open), heating it in the exchanger 22 and reintroducing thisheated fluid into the reservoir 2 (via the end 20). This increase inpressure is independent of the fuel consumption. This process isadvantageously rapid and flexible.

Alternatively or in combination, the pressure can be increased viaelectrical heating in the reservoir. This electrical heater can bepowered by a battery that is optionally rechargeable via a fuel cell,which is fed with hydrogen originating from the reservoir 2, 3 (inparticular vaporization gas).

As illustrated in the variant of FIG. 2, the pressure also can beincreased by withdrawing fuel from the tapping circuit at the outlet ofthe vaporization exchanger 12 via a bypass 32. This heated fluid thencirculates in an exchanger 28 located in the reservoir 2 (for example,immersed in the liquid phase) in order to add calories to the content ofthe reservoir 2. This fluid then can be mixed with the fluid of thetapping circuit downstream of the exchanger 12. This pressure increasecan be used when tapping fluid via the tapping circuit.

As is particularly illustrated in FIG. 2, the device can comprise a pipeconnecting an upstream end (connector emerging at the housing 10) and anend emerging at the upper part of the reservoir 2 to allow filling inthe gas phase.

The device can be integrated in any vehicle: motor vehicle, boat,aircraft.

The device can comprise the following features (alternative featuresindependent of or in addition to the aforementioned features). To ensuresafety in the event of a malfunction, the device can comprise a systemfor rapidly draining the content of the reservoir. As schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4, this rapid drainage system cancomprise, for example, a sealed container 33 containing a pressurizedgas (an inert gas, helium, for example) connected to an openingcomponent 36 (shear disc or electrical and/or pyrotechnic actuator),which allows the content of the reservoir to be drained with apressurized gas fluid, for example, to a vent line. This pressurized gascontainer 33 can be housed by the device 1 or the vehicle thatintegrates the device 1 and can be connected to the internal volume ofthe reservoir 2 via a discharge pipe 35. A separate discharge pipe 37can be provided (fitted with at least one valve or flap 38) to outwardlydischarge the content (pipe connected to the inside of the reservoir inthe upper or lower part and emerging in a discharge or recovery zone).

This discharge pipe can be connected, if applicable, to the liquidtapping pipe.

The container 33 or reserve alternatively could contain hydrogen, whichcould form an additional fuel reserve if required other than fordraining.

All or some of the external wall 3 of the reservoir can form part of thestructure of the vehicle that houses the reservoir. For example, theexternal wall 3 is connected to a wall of the vehicle and/or to aone-piece part in order to ensure the mechanical strength of thevehicle.

The vaporization gas in the reservoir 2 (“boil-off” gas) can berecovered in an external buffer reservoir of a filling station, forexample, via a suitable pipe connected to the tapping connector 46, forexample.

For example, this recovered gas can be used to charge a battery via atleast one fuel cell of the vehicle or via a separate entity. Therecovered gas also can be burnt (catalytic burner or flare).

In order to pressurize the reservoir without consuming electricity (orwith reduced electricity consumption) it can be useful to be able to addthe necessary energy in a few minutes in order to increase the pressureand the temperature in the reservoir 2, 3. This could be supplied by afilling lorry or station connected to the vehicle comprising the storagedevice 1. This pressurization also can be implemented by a sealedpressurized gas reserve integrated in the device 1 or the vehiclecarrying said device. This reserve can be connected to the reservoir 2,3 via a discharge pipe provided with one or more valve(s).

Advantageously, the reservoir 2, 3 may be removed from the vehicle, i.e.replaceable (an empty reservoir 2, 3 replaced with a full reservoir 2,3). This safeguards the operations and in particular reduces theconstraints relating to filling by transferring fuel into the emptyreservoir. This can be obtained via a rapid connection/disconnectioninterface between the reservoir 2, 3 and the circuits that are connectedthereto.

Thus, whilst being a simple and inexpensive structure, the device allowsthe complexity, the bulk, the mass and the maintenance constraints to bereduced compared to the prior art.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives,modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in theart in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intendedto embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fallwithin the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. The presentinvention may suitably comprise, consist or consist essentially of theelements disclosed and may be practiced in the absence of an element notdisclosed. Furthermore, if there is language referring to order, such asfirst and second, it should be understood in an exemplary sense and notin a limiting sense. For example, it can be recognized by those skilledin the art that certain steps can be combined into a single step.

The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise.

“Comprising” in a claim is an open transitional term which means thesubsequently identified claim elements are a nonexclusive listing i.e.anything else may be additionally included and remain within the scopeof “comprising”. “Comprising” is defined herein as necessarilyencompassing the more limited transitional terms “consisting essentiallyof” and “consisting of”; “comprising” may therefore be replaced by“consisting essentially of” or “consisting of” and remain within theexpressly defined scope of “comprising”.

“Providing” in a claim is defined to mean furnishing, supplying, makingavailable, or preparing something. The step may be performed by anyactor in the absence of express language in the claim to the contrary.

Optional or optionally means that the subsequently described event orcircumstances may or may not occur. The description includes instanceswhere the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does notoccur.

Ranges may be expressed herein as from about one particular value,and/or to about another particular value. When such a range isexpressed, it is to be understood that another embodiment is from theone particular value and/or to the other particular value, along withall combinations within said range.

All references identified herein are each hereby incorporated byreference into this application in their entireties, as well as for thespecific information for which each is cited.

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A vehicle comprising a device for storing and forsupplying fluid fuel, said device for storing and for supplying fluidfuel comprising: a reservoir of liquefied fuel gas in equilibrium with agas phase; and a circuit for filling the reservoir; at least one circuitfor tapping fluid from the reservoir; at least one circuit forregulating the pressure in the reservoir; and a housing that is separatefrom the reservoir, wherein: the filling, tapping, and pressureregulating circuits comprise a set of valves that is arranged in thehousing; the housing is removably connected to the reservoir via ademountable mechanical coupling system; the filling, tapping, andpressure regulating circuits further comprise a set of demountablefluidic connectors that are located at a junction between the reservoirand the housing and which is configured to allow, during demounting ofthe housing with respect to the reservoir, separation between portionsof the filling, tapping, and pressure regulating circuits that arelocated in the reservoir and portions of the filling, tapping, andpressure regulating circuits that are located in the housing.
 19. Thevehicle of claim 18, wherein, when the housing is connected to thereservoir, the housing defines a closed volume filled with a neutralatmosphere that is predominantly an inert gas.
 20. The vehicle of claim19, wherein the inert gas is helium.
 21. The vehicle of claim 18,wherein, when the housing is connected to the reservoir, the housingdefines a sealed, closed vacuum volume at a pressure ranging between10⁻⁹ mbar and 10⁻¹ mbar.
 22. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein each ofthe valves of the set of valves arranged in the housing is anall-or-nothing type valve.
 23. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein each ofthe valves of the set of valves arranged in the housing is an electricalcontrol type valve.
 24. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the fillingcircuit comprises a liquid filling pipe that is provided with anupstream end emerging at a wall of the housing and a downstream endemerging at a wall of the reservoir at a lower end thereof, and saidliquid filling pipe comprises at least one valve located in the housing.25. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein: the tapping circuit comprises atapping pipe that is provided with a first upstream end and a downstreamend, the first upstream end emerging at a wall of the reservoir, at alower end thereof, the downstream end of the tapping pipe emerging at awall of the housing; and said tapping pipe further comprises, arrangedin series, at least one valve and a heating heat exchanger.
 26. Thevehicle of claim 25, wherein the tapping circuit comprises a secondupstream end that emerges at the reservoir wall at an upper end thereof,said second upstream end being connected to the downstream end via atleast one valve and the heating heat exchanger.
 27. The vehicle of claim18, wherein: the pressure regulating circuit comprises a pressurizationpipe; the pressurizing pipe comprises upstream and downstream ends; theupstream end emerges at a wall of the reservoir at a lower end thereof;the downstream end emerges at a separate point of the reservoir wall atan upper end thereof; and said pressurization pipe further comprises,arranged in series, at least one valve and a heating heat exchanger. 28.The vehicle of claim 18, wherein: the pressure regulating circuitcomprises a heating exchanger housed in the reservoir for thermallyexchanging with the liquid fuel stored in the reservoir, the exchangerbeing fed, via a pipe, with a hot fluid that is the liquid fuel afterbeing tapped from the reservoir and heated.
 29. The vehicle of claim 18,further comprising a sensor for measuring the pressure in the reservoirand/or a sensor for measuring the pressure of the fluid in the housingthat is/are located in the housing.
 30. The vehicle of claim 18, furthercomprising an electronic data storage and processing component connectedto the set of valves, the electronic data storage and processingcomponent being configured to control an opening or closing of thevalves.
 31. The vehicle of claim 18, further comprising a rapid drainagesystem that comprises a sealed container containing a pressurized gas, acomponent for opening the container, and a discharge pipe connecting thecontainer to the storage volume of the reservoir, the discharge pipebeing provided with at least one valve or a flap for discharging thefluid out of the reservoir.
 32. The vehicle of claim 31, wherein thepressurized gas is helium.
 33. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein theliquefied fuel gas that is in equilibrium with a gas phase is hydrogen.34. A method for providing a consumer with fuel from a storage andsupply device of the vehicle of claim 18, comprising the steps of: whenthe pressure in the reservoir is higher than a first determinedthreshold, the fuel is tapped in gas form from the gas phase of thereservoir; and when the pressure in the reservoir is lower than a seconddetermined threshold, the fuel is tapped in liquid form from the gasphase of the reservoir.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the pressurein the reservoir is increased by withdrawing fuel in liquid form fromthe liquid phase of the reservoir, heating the withdrawn liquid fuel,and then reintroducing the heated withdrawn liquid fuel into thereservoir.
 36. The method of claim 34, wherein the pressure in thereservoir is increased via a heater located in the reservoir.
 37. Themethod of claim 34, wherein the heater is a heat exchanger fed with fuelthat is tapped from the reservoir and heated and that is set to exchangeheat with the fuel in the reservoir.